Persistent, Niggling Questions

[Nate the Great]

So I'm watching a Trek clip where a character's luggage consists of a single hexagonal box the size of a duffel bag (I think we saw it on screen in that binary number episode). The only actual luggage we see is one uniform and a PADD...


PNQ: What is realistic luggage for a junior officer on a starship?


It occurs to me that the uniform is unnecessary, the replicator can make a new one and your precise measurements would be part of your computer profile that follows you as you transfer ship to ship (replicator presets, preferred decorations, etc.). And let's assume that you only need one PADD that is only used as a netbook equivalent: most of it is just an Internet access device, very little onboard storage required.


So what else? Presumably any religious or cultural decorations would be shipped via cargo pod and beamed into your quarters. Maybe I could understand taking one physical book with you in your luggage, but no more. A small selection of nonreplicable snacks? I don't know.


How much gold pressed latinum would a junior officer be expected to carry with them? For that matter...


PNQ: If uniforms don't have pockets, how do Starfleet officers carry their latinum?


I mean, do Ferengi only insist on hard currency for transactions with other Ferengi? How often did we see Starfleet officers on DS9 handle latinum, other than Dax during Dabo games, of course.